The Phubbing Scale (PS-8) in the Portuguese population: psychometric properties

Phubbing is defined as ignoring other individuals by using a mobile phone during a face-to-face conversation. The Phubbing Scale (PS) was developed to assess this practice. In this study, we analyze the psychometric properties of the 8-item version of the PS (PS-8) in the Portuguese population, providing validity evidence based on internal structure and on relationships with other variables, and examining item properties, reliability, and measurement invariance across gender. Participants were 391 Portuguese adults (132 men, 259 women) who completed a battery of questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices for the two-factor structure (communication disturbance and phone obsession), which was invariant across gender. Item homogeneity and reliability of factor scores (McDonald's omega) were satisfactory. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables was provided by positive associations with time spent on the Internet on weekdays and at the weekend, time spent on social networking sites, number of social networks used, Internet addiction, problematic mobile phone use, Facebook intrusion, fear of missing out, and depression. These associations show the addictive component of phubbing and its relationship with mental health. The PS-8 is a short and easy-to-administer scale with adequate psychometric properties for measuring phubbing in the Portuguese population. (AU)

Sexting in adolescence: The use of technology and parental supervision / Sexting en la adolescencia: uso de la tecnología y supervisión parental

Abstract Sexting is a risky behaviour that is becoming increasingly common among adolescents. There has been little research in Latin American countries. This study analyses sexting in relation to technology use, peer and family connectedness, and parental supervision in Ecuadorian adolescents, examining gender and age differences. A sample of 613 adolescents (12-18 years old) from Quito (Ecuador) completed a questionnaire about sexting, technology use, and parental supervision. The results show that the typical profile of a sexting practitioner is an adolescent who spends a lot of time using a mobile phone, mainly for peer engagement, and who also makes greater use of the internet and social networks. Parental control does not appear to be a key factor in relation to sexting. The typical profile did not differ across gender or stage of adolescence, although boys and older adolescents were more involved in sexting. Girls used Instagram and Snapchat more, and they also used their mobile phone more often for peer engagement. The use of ICTs was greater among late and middle adolescents, and parental supervision decreased as adolescents got older. Sexting is associated with a greater use of technology, mainly for peer engagement. Strict parental supervision does not mitigate adolescent sexting. Educational implications are discussed.

Resumen: El sexting es una conducta de riesgo que se está incrementando en la adolescencia. La investigación en países latinoamericanos es escasa. Este estudio analiza el sexting relacionado con el uso de la tecnología, comunicación con iguales y familia, y supervisión parental, incluyendo el género y la edad en adolescentes ecuatorianos. Una muestra de 613 adolescentes (12-18 años) de Quito (Ecuador) cumplimentaron cuestionarios sobre sexting, uso de la tecnología y supervisión parental. El perfil del practicante de sexting es el adolescente que usa más el teléfono móvil, principalmente, para comunicarse con los iguales, y también internet y redes sociales. El control parental no se asocia a menor práctica del sexting. Este perfil no varía según el género o etapa de la adolescencia, aunque los chicos y adolescentes mayores muestran mayor implicación en sexting. Las chicas usan más Instagram y Snapchat y el teléfono móvil para relacionarse con los iguales. El uso de la tecnología es mayor en la adolescencia media y tardía y la supervisión parental disminuye a medida que incrementa la edad. El sexting está relacionado con mayor uso de la tecnología, principalmente, para relacionarse con los iguales, y la supervisión parental restrictiva no mitiga esta práctica. Se discuten las implicaciones educativas.